Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Injured in Unprovoked Attack Outside Florida Hotel

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was injured in an unprovoked attack by 19-year-old Max Hartley outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale. The incident took place on Monday when Allen was smoking a cigarette near the valet section of the hotel. Hartley charged at Allen, who lost his left arm in a traffic accident in 1984, knocking him to the ground and injuring his head. A woman who came out to help Allen was also attacked by Hartley, who repeatedly struck her before following her into the hotel and dragging her outside by her hair. Hartley was later arrested for abusing an elderly or disabled person without great harm after he was found by hotel staff allegedly damaging vehicles.

According to a police report, Allen gave a statement to the police expressing his desire for the prosecution of the perpetrator. Hartley was charged with one count of abusing an elderly or disabled person without great harm. Allen’s representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The band had performed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood over the weekend, co-headlining with Mötley Crüe.

Hartley was hiding behind a pole outside the Four Seasons when he rushed at Allen and knocked him to the ground, causing him to hit his head. After Allen’s wife, singer Lauren Monroe, attempted to intervene, Hartley allegedly dragged her by her hair. According to ABC News, Allen had provided a sworn statement to the police and expressed his desire for Hartley to be prosecuted. Authorities confirmed that Allen suffered injuries after hitting his head on the ground, with Monroe, a singer, rushing out of the hotel to help him.

Hartley was later found by the police breaking car windows at a nearby hotel and was arrested on charges of two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult. He declined to comment when approached by 7News and was asked if he was a Def Leppard fan. The band is currently on a World Tour and is scheduled to perform in their hometown of Sheffield in May after a European leg. Monroe and Allen collaborated on music and got married in 2003.

The attack on Allen has shocked fans and the music industry alike, with many sending him well-wishes for a speedy recovery. Allen’s determination and resilience have been an inspiration to many since his near-fatal car accident in 1984, where he lost his left arm. Despite the accident, he continued to play the drums and re-teach himself how to play, showcasing the power of the human spirit.